Malaysia's defence ministry seeks cabinet approval for a yearly Veterans Day
The Defence Ministry plans to introduce an annual Veterans Day to honour military veterans, pending cabinet endorsement.
At the 100th National General Assembly of the Armed Forces Veterans Association, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the Defence Ministry is drafting a bill to establish an annual Veterans Day, subject to cabinet approval and backed by the National Veterans Council. The proposed holiday would celebrate veterans' sacrifices and promote greater public respect. Nordin outlined a policy shift toward empowering veterans through reskilling, certification, job-matching and entrepreneurial support via the Veterans Entrepreneur and Skills Training Corporation.
He noted collaboration with the Human Resources Ministry and highlighted discount benefits under the Harga Istimewa Tentera Sejahtera campaign at Pernama outlets. Contributions to the Warriors Fund have risen, and the Armed Forces Veterans Association now counts 182,786 registered members.
Why it matters
A national Veterans Day could boost recognition and economic opportunities for Malaysia's former service members.
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